WILL IT BLEND HITS 200,000 SUBSCRIBERS - LAST EAGLE SCOUT STARTS

As of this weekend, we reached 200,000 subscribers on our YouTube channel of Will It Blend. We also are over 200 million views, or so. I have lost count and quit counting for time's sake. But the influence of the program has been all over the world, as you can see in this video.

I must warn you, this video a little FOUL. It is some mid-eastern version of South Park or something. I have never heard of this cartoon and don't remember giving permission for them to use Will It Blend footage. But it is an honor (I guess) to be featured in other people's work.

By the way, in one week from today, we start to film my next movie, "The Last Eagle Scout". I sure hope I can pull this off. I am actually a little scared and excited at the same time. We had a cast/crew BBQ last Saturday and really enjoyed every one's company. Must give the credit to my producer, Danna Tanner for her idea and work on getting that together.

We estimated about 70-80 people showed up (we have 60 speaking roles in the film, so it was well attended). I think many participants gained the spirit of what I am trying to do in making this film. There is definitely going to be a turn in American Cinema as things in our country are simultaneously going sour.

Let's hope we can make a difference.

WILL IT BLEND Goes to Moscow

The Will it Blend man himself, Tom Dickson, attempted talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Tom said that Medvedev was a big fan of Will it Blend and his favorite video was the Bic Lighters because of how Tom looked in the end (obviously a pun toward how he would like to see all Americans in the end, blown up by bic lighters).

But Tom was able to cool the waters with the Russian Prime Minister by giving him a Blendtec Total Blender. He stated that this gift was WAY better then the crap Obama gave him, and that he would be happy to sell all his nukes... on Ebay (Why not, that's where Palin sold the Alaskan corporate jet).

All kidding aside, I guess Tom will be going to Moscow to perform Will it Blend Live. We will probably be producing an announcement video for YouTube. So I couldn't help but to make this great work of art (I did the head, Jonathan did the blender.)

Will it Blend continues to live... (click on the photo to see closer view)

SCOUT FILM-WAREHOUSE SCREEN TEST

I was fooling around around the Blendtec warehouse (and that is where some of the best ideas come, is from fooling around), knowing that I have just a few weeks left before shooting my new film.

We have scooters in the warehouse at Blendtec and I wrote in a chase scene for The Last Eagle Scout that reminded me of that last Batman movie. I by no means have that kind of budget, but feel that I can pull some things off. So here is a test of me strapping the camera to the scooter and riding around the warehouse.

It is BORING, I am going to warn you now, but it is posted for a select few people to see it. Figured you might get a kick out of it.

IN PRE-PRODUCTION... WORKING WITH THE BSA IN DALLAS

The headquarters for the Boy Scouts of America is located in Irving, Texas and so I met with them and we talked about my film, The Last Eagle Scout.  At first, they were a little taken back by the storyline.  Then, they persisted to know whether I was a participator in scouting at all. I told them that I was Mormon and served with the scouts in one calling or another in the scouting program for the past 12 years. 

They said they held high regard for the church, especially during the turbulent times in court 8 years ago.  They officially chose not to support my project, but told me that they could not stop me from making my film.  Their only concern was that I represented the scouts with dignity.  I hope to do that.  

Obviously, the BSA are not in the film business.  I realized that when I sent them a script all marked up with all the references to the BSA, but they didn't even have time to read it.  My contact did say that if they watch the film and like it, they may think differently about supporting it.  To this, I totally understand.

So off to pre-production we go.  We officially have 2 months till shoot time.  I am nervous as I can be.  But eager to make this the best film I can.  I will do my best to take out the "pop" and focus on the filmmaking.

Our crew will be small so as to be able to move fast.  But the cast is large for an independent film.  60 speaking parts, several hundred extras, 23 shooting days and a lot of Advil.  Wish me luck.

MY LIFE WITH STAR TREK (NERD!)

I am pretty lucky that my birthday usually lands near the early summer, blockbuster movies.  This year, I had a little party at the new Cinemark theater in Orem with a few close friends, watching the new Star Trek movie.  (I would have invited all of you, but I was paying for it).  This new theater is all digital and has a party room.  It had movie memorabilia all around, cake and ice cream, and my faithful friend Paul Green got me all 4 Star Trek movie glasses from Burger King (whohoo!).  

Yes, I am a nerd.  I like Star Trek for the endless story possibilities, interesting characters and also ways to instantly see other societies that may never exist and how they solve problems.   

I never got into learning Klingon or memorize the stardate of each episode.  But I mostly got into Star Trek when I was 14, I was aimlessly looking at the phone directory of our church congregation and noticed someone with the last name "Roddenberry".  I couldn't figure for the life of me where I have seen that name before.  

Finally, while watching a re-run of Star Trek, I noticed the producer at the end of the credits read Gene Roddenberry.  I went to church and asked Tom Roddenberry if he was related.  He was his cousin and he knew him well enough, being that he grew up with him, to just call him out of the blue. 

Since I was already cementing my love for film by this age, I made up a reason for needing to talk to Gene.  I had a film class I was taking in High School (the only one ever in my part of South Texas), and I decided to do a paper on him.

To set this up, this all happened in 1982, right before Star Trek II was being released.

So, a date was set for me to receive his phone call.  I got home from school and the phone rang.  Weirdly, it was a woman named Susan Sackett.  The reason it's weird is that besides being Gene's assistant, she went on to write many episodes of The Next Generation.  

Gene came on the line and all of a sudden I was tongue tied.  It took a few minutes for me to remember why I was actually calling him.  Finally I got my composure and got to the basic questions, how he started, what did he do besides Star Trek, how do you like your eggs.

I asked about the rumor going around that Spock is going to die in this film.  He said it was true, that Nimoy wanted to move on.  In fact, he went into how he wanted to make 5 or 6 movies, kill off or retire each crew member, but then have them replaced.  Then he would start the TV show over again with new people that the audience could appreciate.

This is 5 years before The Next Generation, and obviously all that didn't happen.  Fans were mad that Spock would die, Star Trek II became a big hit and (the rest you can either figure out or read on-line).

Since that phone call, I received several Star Trek things with Gene Roddenberry's signature on them, as well as a costume off of the rack of the first Star Trek film.  Gene definitely loved his fans.

From that experience, growing up in South Texas, where film making was far from present, a seed was planted in me that continues to grow to this day.  I will always have a space for Star Trek (no pun intended).

Photos of Opponent to Gay Marriage found TOPLESS - (thanks to Iowahawk)

I saw this and couldn't pass up putting this on my blog.  I have to thank a blogger known as Iowahawk for putting this on his site.  

I figured it spoke volumes to the hypocrisy of those on the left who continue to trash Miss California for her opinion.  It is a typical example how media destroys people if they don't like them.

OLD NEWS - NEW THOUGHTS

I was thinking back about the events that have transpired since the Miss USA runner-up gave her honest answer to Perez Hilton about her opinion on gay marriage.  I have a personal issue with this, so I figured I would weigh in.

First mistake was Perez Hilton asking the question.  I always thought that these pageants are supposed to be political-free and bring people together for a common cause, "world peace" we can all agree on.  Evidently, Perez felt that talking about gay marriage was going to "bring people together".  He should have known better. 

Second, why use Perez Hilton as a judge? Who is Perez Hilton anyway?  Is he related to Paris Hilton?  Is he an actor? Has he been in any films?  Has he written some thought-provoking book?   Some people these days, I wonder just how they get famous.

Thirdly, there are many in the gay community that feel that his "rant" afterwards was out of line and was even a set back in their mission.  I can understand that and let me explain.

Personally, I feel that there is no problem giving gays the same marriage opportunities as any heterosexual human being.  They are God's children too and I am sure he loves them just the same.  The problem with changing the idea of marriage and granting the same rights to gays is what you just saw in Perez Hilton (as well as many of the people protesting outside the church temples).   Look at how mad gays can get sometimes.  Look at the hatred and "take-overness" that can seem to come across when trying to make things "equal".  

I personally have a hard time "loving" someone that is forcing me to love them.  I know that's a stretch, but you know know what I mean.  Long term changes in society take time and need to be understood by all.  

I can see more now what the church was doing by giving their two cents in the matter in November.  There were church members that were concerned that giving gays the right to marriage would then force the church to marry gays in the temple, thus closing temples.  Then there were those on the other side of the issue that would say "that would never happen".

Now look at the protests afterwards.  Are you telling me that with as angry as the gay community gets they won't try to force the church to perform marriages?  Look at how they reacted.  You give them an inch, they will take a mile.  THAT is what I am afraid of.  

You work so hard to be tolerant that you get in trouble in the process.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.